Ewan McGregor is a talented actor perhaps best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. He was born on 31 March, 1971, in a small town in Scotland to teacher parents, James and Carol McGregor. He took to acting at quite an early age and would even perform for his family and friends. He was inspired by his uncle, Dennis Lawson, who was an actor himself and had appeared in the Star Wars movies. To fulfil his ambition of becoming an actor, he started working with the Repertory Theatre in Scotland. He also studied Dramatics in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. In 1988, McGregor moved to London and enrolled himself in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a drama course .
McGregor got his break in the BBC series Lipstick on Your Collar just before his graduation in 1993. After this series, there was no looking back. He made his big screen debut with the movie Being Human in 1993. However, it was the 1994 movie Shallow Grave that caught attention the public as well as critics. He won the Empire Award for the Best British Actor for this movie. In 1996, Ewan starred in the movie Trainspotting, which brought him further acclaim. He won a series of awards such as an Empire Award and a Scottish BAFTA for his realistic portrayal of heroin addict, Mark Renton. McGregor’s popularity increased during the 1990s when he starred in movies such as The Pillow Book (1996), Emma (1996), Nightwatch (1997), A Life Less Ordinary (1997), Velvet Goldmine (1998), Desserts (1998) and Eye of the Beholder (1999). His fame heightened with his role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999.
In the new millennium, McGregor has appeared in movies such as Nora (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Down with Love (2003), Young Adam (2003), Big Fish (2003), The Island (2005), Miss Potter (2006) and Stormbreaker (2006). In 2001, his role in the smash hit movie Moulin Rouge! earned him several awards. McGregor also continued his appearance in the Star War movies, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). In 2005, he also provided voiceovers in movies, Robots and Valiant. He also dabbles in music and has sung songs with Nicole Kidman for the movie, Moulin Rouge!
Ewan McGregor went on a marathon motorcycle trip called Long Way Round, along with his friend Charley Boorman and cameraman Claudio von Planta. In 2007, he again went on marathon motorcycle trip called Long Way Down visiting various places. Ewan McGregor is married to Eve Mavrakis, a production designer. The couple have two biological daughters and adopted a girl from Mongolia in 2006.
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